Strap for rescue, carrying, and emergency use



Sept. 27, 1966 J. w. HOWD ETAL STRAP FOR RESCUE, CARRYING, AND EMERGENCY USE Filed May 21, 1965 6mm (9114M ATTYS United States Patent f 3,275,205 STRAP FOR RESCUE, CARRYING, AND EMERGENCY USE James W. Howd, 1200 Hammel St., and Robert E. Howd, 177 Stevenson, both of Akron, Ohio Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,689 3 Claims. (Cl. 224--6) This invention relates to a reinforced strap, made of high strength nylon webbing, or some other suitable strong and lightweight material, which is looped together in a certain designated pattern and stitched for the purpose of making loops and handles. The strap thus becomes a multipurpose tool for a fireman or the like which can be used in fire fighting, rescue, or emergency situations.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a foldable, high strength' but lightweight strap having a plurality of loops along its length, which strap can be carried in the pocket of a fireman, for example, so that it is quickly and at all times available to be removed from the pocket and unfolded to aid in a variety of operations, including hose holding, object supporting or carrying, rescue operations, and a human body harness for guiding, sliding or supporting a person.

A further object of the invention is to provide firemen, policemen, and the like, with an item or tool that is light in weight, durable, and inexpensive and which can be included as part of their issued gear. It is readily pocketed and carried in a uniform and is quickly and at all times available for use when and if an emergency or tool using situation develops.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, can be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic edge-view drawing of the strap tool of the invention in one preferred embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 2 is also a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 1 but of a modification of the center portion of the strap;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the loops formed at each end of the strap; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate two ways in which the strap can be employed.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the numeral 8 indicates a belt-like strap of suitable high strength but lightweight, for example, made of nylon webbing. A typical strap has a width of about one inch, a thickness of slightly less than inch, and a length, when provided with loops, as hereinafter described, of between. about four and about fifteen feet, usually about six feet.

The strap 8 is double back on itself at its ends to form loops 10 and 12 and the looped back portion of the strap is stitched to the main body of the strap at 14 and 16.

These loops 10 and 12 serve at least three purposes. The first is to provide an opening into and through which the other end of the strap can be inserted. By inserting one end of the strap through the loop at the other, a type of slip knot effect is produced. This enables the user to tightly grip any object which is attempting to hold, drag, or carry. The second purpose is to provide the user with handles that can be grasped after the strap has been wrapped around the object or person which he intends to drag or can carry. Third, the loops can be used as cradle to receive objects or the limbs of persons to be carried.

The loops 12 are preferably larger in the strap than 3,275,205 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 the loops 10. Thus, the loops 12 can be used to pull over the legs of a victim to be rescued, and then a rope can be attached to the center of the strap to raise or lower the victim who must hold onto the rope with the hands. If a victim is unconscious another strap can be used to fasten the victim into the harness provided by the first strap.

FIGURE 2 indicates that the strap 8 can be of a double thickness between the stitching 16. This double thickness increases the strength of the strap and enables it to be used in situations which require dragging, pull- 7 ing, or carrying a very heavy object.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the loop 10 at either end of the strap. From this drawing one can see how the user could insert his hand into the loop 10 and readily grip the strap using the loop 10 as a handle. It also illustrates the ease in which the other end of the strap could be inserted through the loop 10 to provide a slip knot to tightly grasp a desired object. The numeral 18 generally indicates the weft cords in the nylon webbing which makes up the strap. Numeral 20 generally indicates the warp cords of the webbing. It is the combination of these two which give the webbing its high degree of strength, even though the entire strap is very light in weight. Thus, the user of the strap can carry it in a very small and compact area and yet be provided with a strap of high strength and usefulness when a situation calling for its use arises.

Although the strap could be used in a variety of situations, with a number of different uses, FIGURES 4 and 5 generally illustrate two uses to which the strap could be put. FIGURE 4 shows how a fireman could use the strap to help hold and support a heavy hose 22. By inserting one end of the strap through the loop at the opposite end, and then tightening the strap around his shoulder, he would have one end of the strap firmly aflixed to his body. The other end of the strap is then looped through itself and put around the hose 22 which is to be held. In this way the fireman can use the strap to aid him in supporting and/or carrying the hose or a similar object.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the way in which the strap can be used to safely drag or pull a victim. The middle of the strap is placed on the back of the victims neck, the straps are then thrown forward over his chest and inserted back under his armpits and looped together, as, for example, through a loop 12, at the middle of his back. This leaves the two end loops 10 freely extending out, and permits the rescuer to grab the ends, using the two loops 10 as handles. This method of dragging the victim out of a burning building and even down or up stairs provides him with a safe support, since the pressure from the rescue strap will keep his head and neck in a fixed position and restrains them from being bumped. These illustrations indicate but two ways in which the strap could be used, but in practice there are various other ways in which the user will find the strap an extremely useful and handy tool.

It should be understood that although the strap 8 has described as made of reinforced nylon webbing and this is preferred, this by no means should be a limiting material. It is possible that the rescue strap be composed of other materials which are flexible, lightweight, and strong.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reinforced carrying strap of about 4 to about 15 feet in length for general use but being adapted to be wrapped around the human body to serve as a carrying harness which comprises an elongate belt of high strength, flexible material where each end is folded back on the belt and stitched to the belt to form a loop, and wherein opposed portions of each formed loop are stitched together at at least one point whereby there are at least two loops each of the size to form a handle on each end of the strap.

2. A strap according to claim 1 where one of the two loops of the size to form a handle on each end of the strap is substantially larger than the other with these larger loops 'being used as cradles to receive the limbs of a person to be carried. I

3. A carrying strap of between about 4 to about 15 feet in length for general use but being adapted to be wrapped around the human body to serve as a carrying harness which comprises an elongate belt of high strength, flexible material where each end is folded back on itself at about the center thereof to transform each formed loop into two loops each of the size to form a handle on each end of the strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,993 9/ 1899 Feiker. 1,490,066 4/1924 Carr 2245 2,407,714 9/1946 Maloney 2246 2,679,937 6/1954 Fulster 224--5 X :-3,023,94'1 3/1962 Foley 22458 X FOREIGN PATENTS 455,249 3/1949 Canada. 293,339 7/ 1928 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner;

and stitched to the belt to form a loop, and wherein op- 20 F- W R Asl'sflmf Examiner- 

1. A REINFORCED CARRYING STRAP OF ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 15 FEET IN LENGTH FOR GENERAL USE BUT BEING ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE HUMAN BODY TO SERVE AS A CARRYING HARNESS WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONGATED BELT OF HIGH STRENGTH, FLEXIBLE MATERIAL WHERE EACH END IS FOLDED BACK ON THE BELT AND STITCHED TO THE BELT TO FORM A LOOP, AND WHEREIN OPPOSED PORTIONS OF EACH FORMED LOOP ARE STITCHED TOGETHER AT AT LEAST ONE POINT WHEREBY THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO LOOPS OF THE SIZE TO FORM A HANDLE ON EACH END OF THE STRAP. 